Four Directions First Nations, Métis and Inuit Graduation Coach Approach Dryden High School March 2018 Researcher: Sean Lessard, PhD University of Alberta Nurturing Capacity Founding Sponsor Preface Nurturing Capacity: Building Community Success Indspire supports communities to improve educational outcomes through the documentation and evaluation of their innovative practices. This community-led process is supported by an Indspire-funded Indigenous scholar, who works with programs on the ground to provide training on data collection and evaluation methodology. For more info, please contact [email protected] | 1.855.463.7747 x230 Abstract Four Directions First Nations, Métis and Inuit Graduation Coach Approach (“Four Directions Approach”) is a system that provides intensive support to Indigenous students and their families with the goal of seeing each student through to graduation and transition into their desired post-secondary programs. The core of the Four Directions Approach is to develop a network of committed leaders to support Indigenous learners and strive to facilitate their successful graduation. An integral part of the Four Directions approach is to provide students with a Four Directions Graduation Coach (FDGC) that has deeply rooted experiential ties to the Indigenous community(ies) and their culture(s). The FDGC acts as a mentor and an advisor to the students and plays an essential role as an advocate for each learner with teachers, other school staff and families. It is the overall goal of the Four Directions Approach to support students of First Nations, Métis and Inuit heritage through: 1) Strengthening the knowledge and skills of educators; 2) Establishing trusting relationships with students, their families and the community; 3) Identifying and removing barriers to student success; and 4) Identification of beneficial strategies, milestones and indicators to support graduation and successful transition into post-secondary pathways. Page 2 of 39 Project Holder Dryden High School, Keewatin-Patricia District School Board 79Contact Casimir person: Ave., Dryden, ON P8N 2H4 Telephone: 807-223-2316 Fax: 807-223-2380 Email: Website: http://dhseagles.kpdsb.on.ca Project Lead Project Lead INSERT Name of project lead and position Email: Telephone: Kieran McMonagle Four DirectionsAdditional Graduation Contact: Coach INSERT Name and position Email: Telephone: Email: Telephone: 807.223.2316 Acknowledgements This project would not be possible without the generous support and kindness of former Principal Scott Urquhart, Vice-Principal Jennifer McMaster, Ministry of Ontario Education Researcher Keiko Kuji-Shikatari, and Graduation Coach Kieran McMonagle. As a researcher for the Indspire Institute I was welcomed into the community of Dryden, Ontario over the course of two days where I was able to learn from this team of exceptional educators and advocates of Indigenous youth. I would also like to acknowledge the youth who shared their stories with me as well as their dreams for a better future through education. Page 3 of 39 Table of Contents Preface ........................................................................................................................... 2 Nurturing Capacity: Building Community Success ................................................ 2 Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 2 Project Holder ................................................................................................................ 3 Project Lead ................................................................................................................... 3 Project Lead ................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 6 Description of the Program .......................................................................................... 8 Justification for Programming.................................................................................. 9 Brief History of the Project ..................................................................................... 10 Major Objectives of the Project .............................................................................. 12 Connections to Indspire Principles: ...................................................................... 12 Activities Accomplished ............................................................................................. 13 Materials Developed ................................................................................................ 13 Project Model ............................................................................................................... 18 Structural Diagram of the Four Directions Graduation Coach Program ............. 18 Academic Programming: ........................................................................................ 20 Learning as we Go Approach Diagram .................................................................. 23 Logic Model Used for the Project .............................................................................. 24 Performance Indicators and Measures ..................................................................... 24 Interviews ..................................................................................................................... 26 A Circle Conversation with the First Cohort of Four Directions Youth 2017-06-12 ................................................................................................................................... 26 Interview with Principal Scott Urquhart ................................................................. 27 Interview with Graduation Coach Kieran ............................................................... 31 Parental Interviews .................................................................................................. 32 Evaluation: Key Findings ........................................................................................... 33 Outcomes: Most Significant Accomplishments and Lessons Learned ................. 35 Tracking the Steps ................................................................................................... 35 Four Directions Core Team “Whatever it takes" ................................................... 35 Beyond Teachers ..................................................................................................... 35 Core Funding ........................................................................................................... 36 Next Steps for the Project .......................................................................................... 36 Interactive Tools and Weblinks .................................................................................. 37 References ................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix A Theory of Change Logic Model ............................................................. 39 Page 5 of 39 Executive Summary The Four Directions (FD) Program at Dryden High School (Dryden, ON) is a high school Graduation coach program that aims to both support students in their education and to encourage communication within the professional learning community to identify and address barriers to learning. The program emphasizes a focus on the individual needs of students and ensures that supports are in place for their success. Information regarding the FD Program has been adapted from a working document entitled “Four Directions: Mapping the Work Throughout the Year”. This document has been developed by the Four Directions Core Team which includes administrators, teachers, and Ontario Ministry of Education representatives. There are many important aspects to the Four Directions program, beginning with the development of supportive relationships between the students and a “Circle of Caring Adults”, including teachers, school staff, parents/caregivers, as well as community supports. These relationships are encouraged and coordinated by the Four Directions Graduation Coach who aids the school/board in establishing trusting relationships with the students as well as their families and communities. The Circle of Caring Adults allows students to receive support specific to their needs and as part of this circle the graduation coach acts as a link between supporting students and improving educational practices to better meet their needs. It should be noted that, although this project focused specifically on Dryden High School, the Four Directions Program has been adapted within other district sites. The Four Directions Program is unique in their “Learning as we go” initiative which uses real-time communication to provide helpful information to those supporting Indigenous learners. There are three purposes of this online community including 1) Identifying the individual needs of the students, adapting professional practices, and allowing collaboration among the Circle of Caring Adults, 2) Sharing information on the FD Graduation Coach Program to boards and schools interested in implementing a Four Directions program, and 3) Becoming part of the